Mon 26th Dec. Southern League Div. One South Melksham Town 3 – 2 Frome Town
Mon 2nd Jan. Southern League Division One South. Westbury United 1 Melksham Town 1
ON Boxing Day in front of a bumper crowd of 903, Town fully deserved the three points in a thriller against Frome Town.
After Frome missed a massive opportunity through Ollis, Town took the lead through new signing Alex Henshall. Town dominated the remainder of the half and deservedly went in at the break one up.
Club chairman Darren Perrin reports, “To be fair to Frome they had a good 20 minute spell in the second half and scored two goals through Hopper and Ollis to lead 2 – 1, but with the big crowd mainly made up of Melksham supporters urging them on, Town deservedly equalised through substitute, Jay Malshanky, and with 10 minutes to go it was that man Malshanky who scored the winner with a header at the far post from a great cross from Henshall to send the crowd wild and give Town three points in their last game of 2022.
“A great advert of non-league football from both sides, and pleasing to see the behaviours of both sides and technical area was excellent throughout.
“On New Year’s Day, Town travelled to our close friends and county rivals Westbury United looking to build on the Boxing Day’s victory over Frome Town and looking to do the double over Westbury after our 3 – 2 victory against them back in August. With another bumper gate of 824 (made up by probably half from Melksham) the game was a real disappointing affair.
“Westbury took the lead through ex-Town player Ryan Bole with a free kick. Melksham were pedestrian for the majority of the first half, but thanks to a Sam Hendy free kick, levelled things in the 35th minute. Westbury were then reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute for a shocking challenge by Charlie Walton on Joe Romanski.
“In the second half, although Town had chances to win it through Albie Hopkins and Ben Brooks, Westbury thoroughly deserved their point as they sat behind the ball and defended very well and Town didn’t do enough to deserve the three points.
“Again, pleasing to see both sets of technical areas behaving very well and great to see the crowds at non-league thriving over the Christmas and New Year period.
“Four points out of six is an excellent return for the management and players and will be looking to gain another three points against Tavistock this coming Saturday 7th January, kick off at 3pm.
“The directors of the club would like to thank the support and the sponsorship we received in 2022, and the last two games especially and wish everyone in Melksham a great New Year in 2023.”
